Improvement in steering-propellers



`W. HARSN.

Steering Propellers. No. 144,538. n `Patente.d.Nov.11,1787-3.,

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HARSEN, OF GREEN POINT, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEERING-PROPELLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,538, dated November 11, 1673; application led October 7, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HARSEN, of Green Point, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improved Mechanical Movement, applicable to the propulsion of vessels and other purposes, of which the following is a specification:

This invention, generally, consists in a combination of a revolving worm-sh aft with a number of pendulous arms or staves, within or through which said shaft works toproduce a Wriggling or Worm-like action. Such mechanical movement may not only merely be used as a propeller for boats or other vessels, but, by suspending the pendulous arms on a rod connected with the rudder-post, and using a balland-socliet joint to drive the worm-shaft, the whole is made to form a flexible rudder for said vessels.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side ,view of the stern portion of a boat with my improvement (shown partly in section) applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the propeller, and Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a pair of pendulous arms or staveswith the worm-shaft in its relation thereto.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the stern portion of a boat, and B the rudder-post or stern, having a propeller constructed in accordance with my improvement fitted thereto, and which, being operated by a revolving shaft, C, connected, by a universal joint, D, with a shaft, C', forming an extension i of the shaft, (l, allows of the propeller being moved to and fro laterally to provide for steering, as in the case of various screw or other propellers carried by the rudder; but, in the present instance, the propeller itself, by the peculiarityof its construction, may be made to lanswer as the rudder itself, or forms what may be termed a flexible rudder, and the shaft C is of a worm-like construction. This worm-shaft G is supported, at its outer end, in a stanchion, E, attached to the outer end of a rod, F, projecting from the upper end of the rudderpost, and said worm-shaft arranged to work througha number of pendulous arms or stave-s, G, disposed between the rudder-post and stanchion E, and pendent from the rod F. These pendulous arms G are of a suitable length to insure the immersion of their lower portions in the water; and may either be constructed in pairs, to form a slotbetween them for the passage of the worm-shaft O through them, as represented in Fig. 3, and be united by, or strung at their lower ends on, a rope, b, or they may be constructed each with a separate longitudinal slot through them for the worm-shaft C to pass through. Furthermore, said pendulous arms G may, if desired, be covered on their sides by a canvas or other flexible facing. i

The turning of the worm-shaft C produce a wriggling motion of the pendulous arms G, y

somewhat similar to that of an eel in the water, and so propels the boat. When the shaft O is turned in the direction indicated by the arrows x, then the boat will be propelled in the direction of arrow y; and when said shaft is rotated in areverse direction, the boat will be propelled in an opposite course. y

Such a propeller might be `otherwise arranged than in connection with the rudderpost; but, by its arrangement as represented, it not only forms a propeller, but also a flexible rudder.

I claim as my invention, and desire to. secure by Letters Patentl. The pendulous arms G, in combination with the revolvin gworm-shaft O', substantially as specified. z

2. The pendulous arms G, in combination with the rudder-post B and the revolvingwormshaft C', whereby said arms not only serve to constitute a propeller, but also a exible rudder, essentially as described.

. WM. HARSEN.-

Witnesses z MICHAEL RYAN, FRED. HAYNEs. 

